Magnetoelectric Modules for Scavenging UAV Power from Electric Utility Lines

NanoSonic will work with Penn State to develop, demonstrate and manufacture materials and systems to allow unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to scavenge magnetic field energy from electric power lines and operate continuously in the field. NanoSonic will work with energy harvesting researcher Dr. Shashank Priya and a major US aerospace company to design, fabricate and demonstrate a prototype system during Phase I and test it in the field during Phase II. Our prior research demonstrates the feasibility of scavenging power from the magnetic fields surrounding indoor electrical wiring. We will use lightweight magneto-mechano-electric transducer materials. These are few ply composites of magnetostrictive and piezoelectric materials that can be tiled to cover an area. Their working principle is that the AC magnetic field around power lines induces strain in the magnetostrictive material. The strain is transferred to the bonded piezoelectric material, and the strain in the piezoelectric results in an output voltage across a load impedance. The resulting generated AC voltage can be rectified and stored in a supercapacitor or a rechargeable battery and used to power sensors, communication networks and the UAV itself. Prototype demonstrator hardware will be delivered to the Navy during the Phase I program.